徐州翻译公司带你领略成语中译英的文采
作者:(http://www.hq0451.cn/) 2017/6/3 11:09:56 点击:
成语是中国文化的一颗璀璨明珠。无论是正式文书还是日常交流都涉及成语的使用。
1、爱不释手
释义:喜爱得舍不得放手。
出处:南朝·梁 萧统《陶渊明集序》:“余爱嗜其文,不能释手。”
直译:
so fond of something that one cannot take one's hands off it.
不过这种译法不符合成语短小精干的特点,所以翻译成语时,我们最常采用的办法其实是意译。
意译:
The novel is so instructive that I can hardly tear myself away from it.
这部小说很有意义,简直使我爱不释手。
第一句采用了词组tear oneself away from something来翻译,突出了动态效果,类似的词组还有很多,比如part with something, let go of something, put something down等。
Not a very enthralling book, but at the first glance you could see there a singleness of intention.
总之,这不是一本令人爱不释手的书;不过,稍稍读一下你就会发现,书的宗旨明确。
第二句则使用形容词,指出之所以爱不释手是因为这本书让人着迷,类似的形容词还有attractive等。
People say that this book is a page-turner.
人们说这本书让人爱不释手。
第三种方式是将爱不释手名词化,用的是page-turner这个词,用口头的话来说就是好看得根本停不下来,也体现了爱不释手这层意思。
2、爱屋及乌
释义:比喻爱一个人而连带地关心到与他有关的人或物。
出处:《尚书大传·大战》:“爱人者,兼其屋上之乌。”
直译:
the love for somebody or something extends to everything related with it
例句:
She loves French fashion, and then extends this love to French culture.
她很喜欢法国时装,爱屋及乌,也喜欢上了法国的文化。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:Love me, love my dog.
这个译文并非凭空而出,而是英文中原有的表达。这也体现出了成语翻译的另一种思路,即寻找英语中的对应语来翻译。
3、安分守己
释义:规矩老实,守本分,不做违法的事。
出处:宋•袁文《翁牖闲评》八:“彼安分守己,恬于进取者,方且以道义自居,其肯如此侥幸乎?”
直译:
remain in one's proper sphere; abide by law and behave oneself
例句:
That carpenter wanted to become a lawyer, but he was advised to remain in his proper sphere.
那个木匠想当律师,但别人劝他安分守己地干他自己的老本行。
In fact, he is likely to suspect you even when you abided by law and behave yourself.
实际上,甚至在你还一向安分守己的时候,他也会怀疑你。
意译:
The unity of our society is threatened by troublesome and restless minorities.
我们社会的团结遭到了一小撮滋扰生事、不安分守己的群体的威胁。
这句话采用的是以形容词翻译形容词的方式,而下面这句话则是用了一个词组来表达安分守己:
He's picking on Peter, and you know Peter's the last man in the world to cause trouble.
他老是跟彼得过不去。彼得是个最安分守己的人,这你知道。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:
keep one’s nose clean(行为检点,不作违法的事)
例句:
It's alright here as long as you keep your nose clean; if you don't, they treat you badly.
只要你安分守己,这里就太平。如果你捣乱,他们就会对你不客气。
know one's place(按照自己的身份和地位行事,特别是指自己的地位比较低下的时候)
例句:
They treated their servants well, but expected them always to know their place.
他们对待仆人不坏,但期望他们时时安分守己。
4、安家落户
释义:到一个新地方安家,长期居住。
出处:郭沫若《郑成功》第四章:“台湾每年可收二三季,我们去只要辛苦得几个月,就可以安家落户了。”
直译:
make one's home in
例句:
Many professors have made their homes in Rizhao.
日照吸引了不少教授在这里安家落户。
意译:
Is it a good place to raise a family?
那里是不是一个安家落户的好地方?
这句话用raise a family表达在此地安居的愿望,与安家落户意义相似。
What would happen if an animal that represents a threat to our children becomes able to thrive in urban areas?
如果一种对我们的孩子构成威胁的动物能够在城市里安家落户,那么将会发生什么?
这句话采用的动词thrive表示扎根于此,繁衍生息的意思,同样与安家落户有相似的含义。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:
settle down(定居)
Men do not find it to be all smooth sailing when they settle down in a new colony.
人们发觉到新殖民地安家落户并非一帆风顺。
He has settled down in the countryside.
他已在农村安家落户。
5、暗箭伤人
释义:放冷箭伤害人。比喻暗地里用某种手段伤害人。
出处:宋·刘炎《迩言》卷六:“暗箭中人,其深次骨,人之怨之,亦必次骨,以其掩人所不备也。”
直译:
injure sb by sordid means
例句:
Such a vicious lie injures people by sordid means.
这样一种恶毒的谎言简直是暗箭伤人。
英语中的对应表达:
* stab sb in the back
stab可以当动词,表示“戳,刺,捅”,因此从字面上就可以看出stab sb in the back有背后捅刀子的意思。
例句:
A lot of young people think you have to stab people in the back to get ahead in business, but you don't.
许多年轻人认为只有采取暗箭伤人的手段才能取得商业上的进步,其实不然。
* 简化之后还可以变成back-stabbling。
例句:
She accused her colleagues of bullying and back-stabbing.
她指责同事恃强凌弱,暗箭伤人。
* hit sb below the belt
hit可以做动词,表示“打,击”,belt是腰带的意思。Hit below the belt 连在一起,原来指在拳击中违规地打击对手腰带以下的部位,现在也用来指不公正地、用卑劣的手段攻击别人。
例句:
While her tactic was effective, it was also clearly below the belt.
她的这一招确实起到了效果,但显然不够光明磊落。
6、按图索骥
释义:按照画像去寻求好马。比喻墨守成规办事;也比喻按照线索去寻求。
出处:《汉书·梅福传》:“今不循伯者之道,乃欲以三代选举之法取当时之士,犹察伯乐之图求骐骥于市,而不可得,变已明矣。”
这个成语有两种意思,第一种墨守成规的意思可以翻译为:
stick to old conventions
例句:
We expect our staff not to stick to old conventions, but expect them to be flexible.
我们希望员工不要按图索骥,而有高度的灵活性。
第二种意思可以翻译成:
look for a steed with the aid of its picture,或者follow up a clue to find sth.。
例句:
So, the front-lines teachers can look for a steed with the aid of its pictures, choosing a series of methods for teaching objectives and contents.
由此,一线教师可以按图索骥,选择适合教学目标和内容的一系列方法。
英文中的对应表达:
英语中有一个典故也和线索有关,这就是Ariadne's thread(阿里阿德涅的线),表示得到线索解决困难。
这个典故源于古希腊神话,神话中克里特岛国王弥诺斯强迫雅典人每隔三年就得进贡7对童男童女。
雅典人惶惶不得终日,雅典王子忒修斯(Theseus)决心为国人除去这一妖孽,他就主动报名作为贡品,来到克里特岛。英俊的雅典王子忒修斯的出现,使得公主阿里阿德涅(Ariadne)坠入情网,她决心帮助这位异乡人,就告诉了忒修斯诛灭怪物的方法,并送给他一团线和一把魔剑。
忒修斯在进入迷宫时,把线拴在门口的一根廊柱上,然后放线进入迷宫寻找怪物,找到怪物后与之英勇搏斗,最后用魔剑把怪物杀死,然后循着线原路走出了迷宫。
例句:
We need an Ariadne's thread to guide us through all these difficulties.
我们需要有人来指点迷津,帮助我们走出这重重困境。
7、白发偕老
释义:夫妻相亲相爱,一直到老。
出处:明·陆采《怀香记·奉诏班师》:“孩儿,我与你母亲白头偕老,富贵双全。”
直译:
be devoted to each other and grow old together
例句:
At the wedding party, the bride and the bridegroom expressed that they would be devoted to each other and grow old together.
婚礼上,新娘和新郎表示要白头偕老。
意译:
今天,我告诉了我9个月的女朋友我已经准备好与她白头偕老。
Today, I told my girlfriend of 9 months that I was ready for marriage and having kids.
詹姆士和丽莎,我祝福你们白头偕老,爱河永浴。
James and Lisa, I wish you many happy years together.
如果是夫妻双方互表真情,我们还可以引用一句最经典的西方婚礼誓词:till death do us part。
婚礼誓词:
from this day forward; 从今而后
for better, for worse, 不论境遇好坏
for richer, for poorer, 家境贫富
in sickness and in health, 生病与否
to love and to cherish, 誓言相亲相爱
till death us do part; 直到死亡把我们分开
8、百发百中
释义:形容射箭或打枪准确,每次都命中目标。也比喻做事有充分把握。
出处:《战国策·西周策》:“楚有养由基者,善射,去柳叶百步而射之,百发百中。”
直译:
hit the target one hundred times without a single miss
例句:
He could hit his target one hundred times without a single miss.
他打靶能百发百中。
意译:
to make every shot tell
例句:
Do as he told you and you will find every attempt successful and you will make every shot tell.
照他的话去做,包你百用百灵,百发百中。
值得注意的是,tell在这里并非常见的“说”的意思,而是表示“奏效,起作用”,不过达到的效果可以是好的,也可以是坏的,比如:
例句:
Money is bound to tell.
钱一定不会白花的。
9、八仙过海,各显神通
释义:相传八仙过海时不用舟船,各有一套法术。民间因此产生“八仙过海,各显神通”的谚语。之后用于比喻各自拿出本领或办法,互相竞赛。
出处:明·吴承恩《西游记》第八十一回:“正是八仙同过海,独自显神通。”
直译:
show one's skills like the eight immortals crossing over the sea
例句:
They have made great efforts in technical innovation and every one of them has shown his own skill just like the eight immortals crossing over the ocean.
他们大搞技术革新,真是八仙过海,各显神通。
意译:
figure out way to do(省去“八仙”这类成语中有关文化的因素)
例句:
Under double pressure, entrepreneurs figure out various ways to cope it.
在这种双重压力之下,企业家们如同八仙过海,各显神通,纷纷祭出各种方法加以应对。
这几个成语都学会了吗?
1、爱不释手
释义:喜爱得舍不得放手。
出处:南朝·梁 萧统《陶渊明集序》:“余爱嗜其文,不能释手。”
直译:
so fond of something that one cannot take one's hands off it.
不过这种译法不符合成语短小精干的特点,所以翻译成语时,我们最常采用的办法其实是意译。
意译:
The novel is so instructive that I can hardly tear myself away from it.
这部小说很有意义,简直使我爱不释手。
第一句采用了词组tear oneself away from something来翻译,突出了动态效果,类似的词组还有很多,比如part with something, let go of something, put something down等。
Not a very enthralling book, but at the first glance you could see there a singleness of intention.
总之,这不是一本令人爱不释手的书;不过,稍稍读一下你就会发现,书的宗旨明确。
第二句则使用形容词,指出之所以爱不释手是因为这本书让人着迷,类似的形容词还有attractive等。
People say that this book is a page-turner.
人们说这本书让人爱不释手。
第三种方式是将爱不释手名词化,用的是page-turner这个词,用口头的话来说就是好看得根本停不下来,也体现了爱不释手这层意思。
2、爱屋及乌
释义:比喻爱一个人而连带地关心到与他有关的人或物。
出处:《尚书大传·大战》:“爱人者,兼其屋上之乌。”
直译:
the love for somebody or something extends to everything related with it
例句:
She loves French fashion, and then extends this love to French culture.
她很喜欢法国时装,爱屋及乌,也喜欢上了法国的文化。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:Love me, love my dog.
这个译文并非凭空而出,而是英文中原有的表达。这也体现出了成语翻译的另一种思路,即寻找英语中的对应语来翻译。
3、安分守己
释义:规矩老实,守本分,不做违法的事。
出处:宋•袁文《翁牖闲评》八:“彼安分守己,恬于进取者,方且以道义自居,其肯如此侥幸乎?”
直译:
remain in one's proper sphere; abide by law and behave oneself
例句:
That carpenter wanted to become a lawyer, but he was advised to remain in his proper sphere.
那个木匠想当律师,但别人劝他安分守己地干他自己的老本行。
In fact, he is likely to suspect you even when you abided by law and behave yourself.
实际上,甚至在你还一向安分守己的时候,他也会怀疑你。
意译:
The unity of our society is threatened by troublesome and restless minorities.
我们社会的团结遭到了一小撮滋扰生事、不安分守己的群体的威胁。
这句话采用的是以形容词翻译形容词的方式,而下面这句话则是用了一个词组来表达安分守己:
He's picking on Peter, and you know Peter's the last man in the world to cause trouble.
他老是跟彼得过不去。彼得是个最安分守己的人,这你知道。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:
keep one’s nose clean(行为检点,不作违法的事)
例句:
It's alright here as long as you keep your nose clean; if you don't, they treat you badly.
只要你安分守己,这里就太平。如果你捣乱,他们就会对你不客气。
know one's place(按照自己的身份和地位行事,特别是指自己的地位比较低下的时候)
例句:
They treated their servants well, but expected them always to know their place.
他们对待仆人不坏,但期望他们时时安分守己。
4、安家落户
释义:到一个新地方安家,长期居住。
出处:郭沫若《郑成功》第四章:“台湾每年可收二三季,我们去只要辛苦得几个月,就可以安家落户了。”
直译:
make one's home in
例句:
Many professors have made their homes in Rizhao.
日照吸引了不少教授在这里安家落户。
意译:
Is it a good place to raise a family?
那里是不是一个安家落户的好地方?
这句话用raise a family表达在此地安居的愿望,与安家落户意义相似。
What would happen if an animal that represents a threat to our children becomes able to thrive in urban areas?
如果一种对我们的孩子构成威胁的动物能够在城市里安家落户,那么将会发生什么?
这句话采用的动词thrive表示扎根于此,繁衍生息的意思,同样与安家落户有相似的含义。
寻找目标语言中的对应表达:
settle down(定居)
Men do not find it to be all smooth sailing when they settle down in a new colony.
人们发觉到新殖民地安家落户并非一帆风顺。
He has settled down in the countryside.
他已在农村安家落户。
5、暗箭伤人
释义:放冷箭伤害人。比喻暗地里用某种手段伤害人。
出处:宋·刘炎《迩言》卷六:“暗箭中人,其深次骨,人之怨之,亦必次骨,以其掩人所不备也。”
直译:
injure sb by sordid means
例句:
Such a vicious lie injures people by sordid means.
这样一种恶毒的谎言简直是暗箭伤人。
英语中的对应表达:
* stab sb in the back
stab可以当动词,表示“戳,刺,捅”,因此从字面上就可以看出stab sb in the back有背后捅刀子的意思。
例句:
A lot of young people think you have to stab people in the back to get ahead in business, but you don't.
许多年轻人认为只有采取暗箭伤人的手段才能取得商业上的进步,其实不然。
* 简化之后还可以变成back-stabbling。
例句:
She accused her colleagues of bullying and back-stabbing.
她指责同事恃强凌弱,暗箭伤人。
* hit sb below the belt
hit可以做动词,表示“打,击”,belt是腰带的意思。Hit below the belt 连在一起,原来指在拳击中违规地打击对手腰带以下的部位,现在也用来指不公正地、用卑劣的手段攻击别人。
例句:
While her tactic was effective, it was also clearly below the belt.
她的这一招确实起到了效果,但显然不够光明磊落。
6、按图索骥
释义:按照画像去寻求好马。比喻墨守成规办事;也比喻按照线索去寻求。
出处:《汉书·梅福传》:“今不循伯者之道,乃欲以三代选举之法取当时之士,犹察伯乐之图求骐骥于市,而不可得,变已明矣。”
这个成语有两种意思,第一种墨守成规的意思可以翻译为:
stick to old conventions
例句:
We expect our staff not to stick to old conventions, but expect them to be flexible.
我们希望员工不要按图索骥,而有高度的灵活性。
第二种意思可以翻译成:
look for a steed with the aid of its picture,或者follow up a clue to find sth.。
例句:
So, the front-lines teachers can look for a steed with the aid of its pictures, choosing a series of methods for teaching objectives and contents.
由此,一线教师可以按图索骥,选择适合教学目标和内容的一系列方法。
英文中的对应表达:
英语中有一个典故也和线索有关,这就是Ariadne's thread(阿里阿德涅的线),表示得到线索解决困难。
这个典故源于古希腊神话,神话中克里特岛国王弥诺斯强迫雅典人每隔三年就得进贡7对童男童女。
雅典人惶惶不得终日,雅典王子忒修斯(Theseus)决心为国人除去这一妖孽,他就主动报名作为贡品,来到克里特岛。英俊的雅典王子忒修斯的出现,使得公主阿里阿德涅(Ariadne)坠入情网,她决心帮助这位异乡人,就告诉了忒修斯诛灭怪物的方法,并送给他一团线和一把魔剑。
忒修斯在进入迷宫时,把线拴在门口的一根廊柱上,然后放线进入迷宫寻找怪物,找到怪物后与之英勇搏斗,最后用魔剑把怪物杀死,然后循着线原路走出了迷宫。
例句:
We need an Ariadne's thread to guide us through all these difficulties.
我们需要有人来指点迷津,帮助我们走出这重重困境。
7、白发偕老
释义:夫妻相亲相爱,一直到老。
出处:明·陆采《怀香记·奉诏班师》:“孩儿,我与你母亲白头偕老,富贵双全。”
直译:
be devoted to each other and grow old together
例句:
At the wedding party, the bride and the bridegroom expressed that they would be devoted to each other and grow old together.
婚礼上,新娘和新郎表示要白头偕老。
意译:
今天,我告诉了我9个月的女朋友我已经准备好与她白头偕老。
Today, I told my girlfriend of 9 months that I was ready for marriage and having kids.
詹姆士和丽莎,我祝福你们白头偕老,爱河永浴。
James and Lisa, I wish you many happy years together.
如果是夫妻双方互表真情,我们还可以引用一句最经典的西方婚礼誓词:till death do us part。
婚礼誓词:
from this day forward; 从今而后
for better, for worse, 不论境遇好坏
for richer, for poorer, 家境贫富
in sickness and in health, 生病与否
to love and to cherish, 誓言相亲相爱
till death us do part; 直到死亡把我们分开
8、百发百中
释义:形容射箭或打枪准确,每次都命中目标。也比喻做事有充分把握。
出处:《战国策·西周策》:“楚有养由基者,善射,去柳叶百步而射之,百发百中。”
直译:
hit the target one hundred times without a single miss
例句:
He could hit his target one hundred times without a single miss.
他打靶能百发百中。
意译:
to make every shot tell
例句:
Do as he told you and you will find every attempt successful and you will make every shot tell.
照他的话去做,包你百用百灵,百发百中。
值得注意的是,tell在这里并非常见的“说”的意思,而是表示“奏效,起作用”,不过达到的效果可以是好的,也可以是坏的,比如:
例句:
Money is bound to tell.
钱一定不会白花的。
9、八仙过海,各显神通
释义:相传八仙过海时不用舟船,各有一套法术。民间因此产生“八仙过海,各显神通”的谚语。之后用于比喻各自拿出本领或办法,互相竞赛。
出处:明·吴承恩《西游记》第八十一回:“正是八仙同过海,独自显神通。”
直译:
show one's skills like the eight immortals crossing over the sea
例句:
They have made great efforts in technical innovation and every one of them has shown his own skill just like the eight immortals crossing over the ocean.
他们大搞技术革新,真是八仙过海,各显神通。
意译:
figure out way to do(省去“八仙”这类成语中有关文化的因素)
例句:
Under double pressure, entrepreneurs figure out various ways to cope it.
在这种双重压力之下,企业家们如同八仙过海,各显神通,纷纷祭出各种方法加以应对。
这几个成语都学会了吗?
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